CBS stages live show for ‘Survivor’

Reality competition heads to theme parks

CBS Consumer Products has sealed a deal to bring the stage show “Survivor: Live” to three theme parks this summer, with the potential to expand to additional parks in future years.

Eye has partnered with RWS and Associates to create the interactive show. “Survivor” exec producer Mark Burnett was consulted but was not actively involved in setting up the stage show.

“Audience involvement is key to the success of ‘Survivor,’ and we’ve been looking to make that tangible and real,” said Liz Kalodner, exec VP and general manager of CBS Consumer Products. “It took us a little time to create something that replicated the essence of the show.”

The show will debut May 2 at Denver’s Elitch Gardens and Oklahoma City’s Frontier City. A third show will open May 23 at the Darien Lake Theme Park Resort in Darien Center, N.Y.

The half-hour “Survivor: Live” will use clips from the TV series — as well as actors portraying previous contestants — and divide the audience into four “tribes.” Volunteers from the crowd will go through a series of four challenges, leading eventually to a sole winner.

“It includes all the key elements of what’s on TV,” Kalodner said. “Cooperation, competition, physical and mental challenges, immunity, tribal council, torches, a jury and an ultimate vote.”